celebrating

christmas was celebrated,

candles burning low,

cakes, clementines and

chocolates consumed,

the tree glowingly

present,

and now

to welcome

a new year.

happy new year!

see you in 

2012.

happy christmas

the tree has been
brought into the
house
and is
ready
for decorating.
wishing everyone
a 
happy christmas.

christmas market

we went to the

christmas market

at the

distillery district,

a perfect setting.

there was a beer garden

booths with

products of many

kinds,

a giant christmas tree,

entertainment, dancers

and a choir singing,

captive reindeer,

cries of petrified

children from

the santa enclosure.

still no snow

here.

sunday

clear sky

a

chill in the air,

bricks

and sticks

on

the pond

surface.

friday

have a sweet weekend

in the kitchen

i have been busy in the kitchen,

the other day i finished making

the christmas pudding

(later than planned again)

and baked for the first time

a dundee cake.

they can be left for up to 3

months for the flavour

to improve, i am not that

patient to wait that

long, new year's day

maybe?

december

dark december,

lights on,

candles lit,

the wait

begins.

friday postcard

dancing

dancing

at the dance

studio.

listen to dance the night away

a long november afternoon

november has been

mild,

enjoy these days like

a gift,

out of the house

to a busy cafe

for italian water

and an eggplant

parmigiana sandwich

(not very parmigiana)

with a smattering of

olives and beans,

a walk

through a familiar

neighbourhood

(come along and we

will stop for coffee).

the leaves have fallen

from the trees,

ready for raking

and raking and

endless raking.

current soundtrack autumn leaves

or even better les feuilles morte.

christmas craft sale

'tis the christmas craft sale

season

at neighbourhood churches

around the city.

a queue of shoppers

at the church hall door

eager for

sweets, home baking,

knitting, crafts and

christmas decorations,

or baubles for special

occasions,

there is always a

crowd around the

snack bar window

enticed by the

delicious aromas.

yes, i did not resist

temptation,

and brought home

a jolly quartet

of gingerbread

lads.

lunch break

i always enjoy

a cafe

cleverly done in

that decrepit

vintage playroom

style,

even more so

when the

food is

good.

my brie with pear chutney

and walnut sandwich

was most satisfying

and my

companion's

ban bagnat

was very good.